Walking in Grace, Stepping Out in Faith

Day 22-God Is Judge

I call them Godincidences because I don’t believe in coincidence or luck. This morning I read Psalm 50 about God being a Judge and then go to church, and a good portion of the message was about allowing God to be in His rightful seat as Judge instead of placing others or myself in that position.

The premise is that when I look to others to be my judge instead of God, then I make them an idol. When I place myself as the judge instead of God, I become prideful. Both are sin. The only rightful Judge to sit on the seat of my heart is God alone. When He is Judge, then I can rest in freedom from condemnation, guilt, and shame and can respond to others in humility.

Who is sitting in the seat of judgment in your heart today?

Is it you? Confess your pridefulness before God and in humility ask Him to search your heart for the hidden sin within.

Is it your spouse? Your children? Your boss? Confess this idolatry before God and ask Him to help you to find freedom in Him as the only judge over your life and not others.

Is it God? Thank Him for His grace in your life today and ask Him to continue to search your heart to reveal any pridefulness or idolatry that may try to sneak in and push Him off the judgment seat.

Psalm 50God as Judge

1 God, the Lord God speaks; He summons the earth from east to west.

2 From Zion, the perfection of beauty, God appears in radiance.

3 Our God is coming; He will not be silent! Devouring fire precedes Him, and a storm rages around Him.

4 On high, He summons heaven and earth in order to judge His people.

5 “Gather My faithful ones to Me, those who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”

6 The heavens proclaim His righteousness, for God is the judge. Selah

7 “Listen, My people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel. I am God, your God.

8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or for your burnt offerings, which are continually before Me.

9 I will not accept a bull from your household or male goats from your pens,

10 for every animal of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.

11 I know every bird of the mountains, and the creatures of the field are Mine.

12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and everything in it is Mine.

13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?

14 Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and pay your vows to the Most High.

15 Call on Me in a day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you will honor Me.”

16 But God says to the wicked: “What right do you have to recite My statutes and to take My covenant on your lips?

17 You hate instruction and turn your back on My words.

18 When you see a thief, you make friends with him, and you associate with adulterers.

19 You unleash your mouth for evil and harness your tongue for deceit.

20 You sit, maligning your brother, slandering your mother’s son.

21 You have done these things, and I kept silent; you thought I was just like you. But I will rebuke you and lay out the case before you.

22 “Understand this, you who forget God, or I will tear you apart, and there will be no rescuer.

23 Whoever sacrifices a thank offering honors Me, and whoever orders his conduct, I will show him the salvation of God.”